Rainforest Alliance responds to IPCC Special Report on Climate Change and Land

Rainforest Alliance has applauded the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Special Report on Climate Change and land as “an essential resource and benchmark for policy decision-makers and business leaders”.

Rainforest Alliance says the report demonstrates how there is opportunity to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through changes in agriculture, forestry, and other land-use practices, which account for about 24 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions.

“Through its 30-year history, always focused on the nexus of agriculture and deforestation, the Rainforest Alliance’s work directly addresses the issues raised in the IPCC special report,” says Han de Groot, CEO of Rainforest Alliance.

“We must change how agriculture works. And while that certainly means changing farming practices to be more environmentally sustainable, it also must entail a change in how farmers are remunerated for their hard work, the way companies source their ingredients, and what we consume.”

Rainforest Alliance says research confirms that forests and other “natural climate solutions” are critical in mitigating climate change, thanks to their carbon sequestering and storage capabilities. Although natural climate solutions can help achieve 37 per cent of climate target, even though they presently only receive 2.5 per cent of public climate financing.

“It is important to acknowledge that the food we eat and the way it’s grown has a direct impact on greenhouse gas emissions,” says Aparajita Bhalla, Director Market Transformation, Sectors, for Rainforest Alliance.

“But acknowledging the links between deforestation, land degradation, food security, and climate change is not enough. The work has already started. We need to keep moving towards a more sustainable agriculture system and reap the climate benefits such a system would provide.”